Hygienic aspects of wearing shoes

Abstract

The paper deals with the quantitative description of microclimate in the inner volume of shoes. Unsuitable microclimate conditions may damage foot skin. Isothermal quantitative model of shoe microclimate based on mass balance is presented. Model takes into account moisture produced by foot skin, accumulation of moisture in the inner shoe volume and its transport through shoe upper material. Model calculations of microclimate were done for several different transport properties of the shoe material. In addition, the problematic of leather tanned with chromium compounds it discussed in connection with potential presence of toxic hexavalent chromium compounds and other compounds which may be present in the shoe upper material and which may affect human health. The positive role of wearing socks which may act as a barrier for transport of harmful compounds to the foot skin and also act as a regulator of inner shoe microclimate is emphasized.